JERUSALEM (JWN and agencies)—A gang of armed Egyptian Bedouin on Sunday took over a Sinai resort near Eilat and was demanding a ransom of four million Egyptian pounds (about $660,000) to release it.

Egyptian media said the gang, armed with automatic weapons, took over the Aqua Sun resort, about 30 kilometers south of the Taba border crossing at Eilat.

There were no tourists at the resort, only Egyptian staff. The Egyptian media said dozens of gunmen were threatening to strip the resort’s equipment and destroy the site if their demands are not met. The Egyptian security forces have so far not taken action, claiming they cannot act in the area without permission from Israel.